WELSH soccer bosses are set to give manager Mark Hughes the bumper four-year contract he is seeking as a reward for the European Championship triumph in Finland.

Hughes will get the four-year contract he wants and become the highest paid manager in Welsh soccer history in a rolling deal worth up to #250,000 a year.

The previously highest-paid full-time Wales manager was Bobby Gould on #60,000 per annum.

The Football Association of Wales' ruling 27-man council will rubber-stamp the Hughes move before the October 16 Millennium Stadium clash with Italy, which is certain to be a 72,000 sell-out and bring in more than #1m.

FAW chiefs have been involved in protracted negotiations with Hughes.

But FAW secretary David Collins, while refusing to confirm any figures, admitted after the 2-0 win in Helsinki, "By the end of the month, we will have a positive conclusion to the contract negotiations."

The FAW's management committee meet on Friday to discuss the four-year Hughes deal, which is understood to increase in salary over the course of its duration, leading up to the #250,000 figure in the final year.

Hughes's bosses feel they have no option but to give him what he wants after Wales's victory in Helsinki on Saturday, a result which has set up a thrilling Euro 2004 qualifying campaign.

A recommendation on the four-year rolling contract will be made by the management committee and it will go to the full council for formal approval before the Italy match.

"An announcement won't be made on Friday, but it will be before the Italy game," said Collins.

Asked about the problems of striking a deal suitable to the two parties to date, Collins said, "Look, it's just a question of having discussions.

"We don't want to lose Mark as our manager and the win in Helsinki proved why.

"We've worked our socks off to arrange the friendly matches Mark has wanted. We have enabled him to prepare for the European campaign with matches at the Millennium Stadium against

some of the best countries in the world.

"Mark at the moment is doing everything we've asked of him and the team and we expect this whole thing to be positively resolved soon."

Collins said he hoped the Italy game would be a sellout, with more than 24,000 tickets already having gone.

"I would dearly like to think, after our performance in Helsinki, that the Millennium Stadium will be full."

The Welsh football feelgood factor is set to continue with a new sponsorship deal to be announced with Nationwide soon.